Snow White

March 4-6, 2016
Peter Martin Wege Theatre

A magic mirror and a malicious queen makes Snow White one of the most famous stories of all time. Performed by Grand Rapids Ballet School Junior Company, this Brothers Grimm favorite is full of love, jealousy, and obsession with youthful beauty. This rich and immersive fantasy production is choreographed by Attila Mosolygo.

Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?

Synopsis

Our story of Snow White begins with a celebration of the engagement of Snow White and the Prince. The Prince’s curiosity about what happened to Snow White prompts her to tell her story:

Once upon a time, a young Queen wished for a child who would have hair as black as ebony, skin as white as snow, and lips as red as blood. Soon after, the kind queen’s wish was granted and she named her baby girl Snow White. Sadly, the queen died after giving birth to Snow White. Some years later, Snow White’s father, the King, married a new woman who was beautiful but also very jealous, vein and cruel. She had studied dark magic and had a magic mirror. Every day she would look in the mirror and ask “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all?” Each time the mirror would answer back “You are the fairest of all, O Queen.” The Queen was always pleased as she knew the mirror only spoke the truth.

As Snow White grew older, she became more and more beautiful every day. One morning the Queen asked the mirror: “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of us all?” The mirror answered: “You, O Queen, are fair, it’s true, but Snow White is lovelier than you.” The Queen flew into a jealous rage and ordered the Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest, kill her, and bring back her heart as proof. The Huntsman could not bring himself to do such a terrible act. He left Snow White alone and scared in the forest.

This is where Snow White’s journey begins. Along the way she will meet forest animals, trees and flowers. They bring her to the home of the Seven Dwarfs where she will cook and clean for them in exchange for a place to stay.

Believing that Snow White is dead, the Queen asked the mirror again and the mirror answered back “You, O Queen, are fair, it’s true, but Snow White is lovelier than you.” This reply angered the Queen and she tried to kill Snow White two more times with a corset from the market and a comb she took from a young girl’s hair. Each time the Dwarfs came home just in time to save her life and warned her to trust no one. Once again the Queen asked the mirror and when it told her that Snow White still lived she trembled with rage. She went to the apple orchard and picked the most perfect red apple. She returned to her dungeon, poisoned the apple and used her magic to transform herself into a witch.

Her final attempt to kill Snow White failed when a handsome prince who was hunting in the woods discovered Snow White. He fell in love with her at first sight, and broke the spell with a kiss.

Our story ends with the wedding celebration of Snow White and the Prince who live happily ever after.

Attila Mosolygo

Choreographer

Attila was born in Kisvarda, Hungary. He received his early training at the National Ballet Institute in Budapest. After moving to the United States, he joined the Joffrey Ballet School. He has performed as a guest artist with Mobile Ballet, Bravo Dance, Harrisburg Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Attila spent sixteen years as a company dancer and is currently in his sixth season as Ballet Master. As a company dancer, a few of his notable roles include The Prodigal Son in George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, Max in Septime Webre’s Where The Wild Things Are, Charlie Chaplin in Gordon Peirce Schmidt’s Flickers, Tibalt in Mario Radacovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, and Melancholic in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. Attila became the Artistic Director of the Grand Rapids Ballet School’s Junior Company in 2011. Since becoming the Artistic Director, Attila has choreographed Snow White, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Carnival of the Animals and Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes for the Junior Company. He and his wife Mindy have one daughter and one son, Vivian and Cameron.